There are only two teams still alive this season. The other 30 franchises are in vacation mode, though not entirely. All teams’ front offices are busy plotting their moves in the upcoming draft, which is shaping up to be a very intriguing one. With that said, let’s look at how we think the first round of the draft will unfold.
It has become a tradition over the past several years—that the Browns will pick high in the draft because they’ve always sucked. Hopefully for the franchise, it would start REALLY turning the ship around this season, beginning in this draft. There are needs in a lot of areas for a team that finished 2016 with a 1-15 record and drafting Allen will boost the Browns’ weak pass rush that mustered just 26 sacks last season, tied for second fewest in the league.
2. San Francisco 49ers
Pick: Myles Garret (OLB, Texas A&M)
Garret could be drafted by the Browns, but whoever between the Texas A&M product and Jonathan Allen is still available at this point, we see the 49ers getting that player. Like Cleveland, the 49ers have several holes to fix on their team and Garret could the solution to one of the team’s biggest problems, which is outside pass rushing. Garret won the Bronko Nagurski Award—given to the best defensive player in the nation—last season and finished his last year in College Station with 8.5 sacks.
3. Chicago Bears
Pick: Deshaun Watson (QB, Clemson)
It’s time for the Bears to give and let go of Jay Cutler. They need to hit the reset button at the quarterback position with Cutler not delivering. Furthermore, Matt Barkley’s not going to be the Kirk Cousins to Cutler’s RG3. A dynamic signal-caller with a great attitude and promising potential like Watson should at least give Chicago a reason to hope that there’s future at the position.
4. Jacksonville Jaguars
Pick: Dalvin Cook (RB, Florida State)
Jacksonville’s offense lacks a punch. The passing game has been so-so under Blake Bortles’ orchestration and the running game was ranked just 22nd in the NFL in 2016. With a creative running back like Dalvin Cook, who may not need as much from the offensive line to excel in the backfield, Bortles can see some pressure ease off his shoulders.
5. Tennessee Titans
Pick: Teez Tabor (CB, Florida)
The AFC South features lot of passing and the Titans must be ready to contend defensively if they have plans of ruling the division soon. The secondary sure could use some help after the team ranked 30th in the league in pass defense. Tabor is regarded by several scouts as the best cornerback in this class and with the cornerback position one of the Titans’ top needs, the Florida product could be headed to Tennessee.
6. New York Jets
Pick: Mitch Trubisky (QB, North Carolina)
The Jets are begging for a new quarterback after seeing Ryan Fitzpatrick and company embarrass the team on a weekly basis. New York has selected 11 quarterbacks since 2000 and yet the team still hasn’t found the answer under center. At some point, the Jets will hit the jackpot. Trubisky started just one year for North Carolina but has the blend of great size, strong arm, and athleticism that can turn the Jets’ fortunes around.
7. Los Angeles Chargers
Pick: Malik Hooker (S, Ohio State)
The Chargers would do themselves a big favor by getting the services of Malik Hooker. The secondary has been great last season for Los Angeles, as the team compiled 18 interceptions and ranked 10th in pass defense. That said, the safety position is a question mark for the Chargers after the departure of Eric Weddle and the possibility of Jahleel Addae testing free agency. As part of the Buckeyes last season, Hooker collected eight interceptions and earned All-American honors.
8. Carolina Panthers
Pick: Leonard Fournette (RB, LSU)
Carolina shouldn’t waste the opportunity of taking Fournette off the board if the manchild running back is still available at the eighth spot. Carolina doesn’t have the offensive line of the Dallas Cowboys but Fournette could have the same impact Ezekiel Elliot had last season, considering the former LSU Tiger’s combination of raw power and speed to go with his size.
9. Cincinnati Bengals
Pick: Corey Davis (WR, Western Michigan)
Who knows how AJ Green will look like after suffering a season-ending hamstring injury in 2016? Green could end up just fine after all, but the Bengals’ offense is still in need of depth following the departures of Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu. Corey Davis looked spectacular in his last season for the Broncos, recording 1,500 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns. Andy Dalton could use a guy like Davis lining up directly across of Green.
10. Buffalo Bills
Pick: Mike Williams (WR, Clemson)
Sammy Watkins hasn’t lived up to the hype largely due to his injury-prone body. That shouldn’t deter the Bills from drafting Mike Williams, a Clemson product like Watkins. Williams is an electric downfield threat with excellent body control and big-play potential.
